‘Those involved in foeticide to be declared outcasts’

Voicing concern over the dwindling sex ratio in the region, the Mahor Vaish community has decided that those involved in female foeticide would be declared as outcasts.

An announcement to this effect was made during the community’s national conference held in Badaun on Sunday.

“It’s an act of murder (foeticide)… and our community has no place for murderers. What will we do with economic achievements if we fail to maintain the male-female ratio of our society? asked Pramod Gupta, national president of the All-India Mahor Vaish Mahasabha, adding there was high prevalence of female foeticide amongst people of the community.

He further said the country was developing economically but regressing as a society.

Reportedly, Uttar Pradesh fared low on sex ratio standards and the situation was abysmal in western UP districts. According to the 2011 Census data, the sex ratio in UP was merely 912 – 23 units less than the national figure of 943.

On the other hand, sex ratios in the districts of Bareilly zone are even less than that of UP and were recorded as 887, 872,895 and 871 for Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit and Badaun respectively.

“To curb the dwindling sex ratio, we have decided to declare those involved in female foeticide as outcasts,” said Gupta.

While addressing the gathering during the national conference, he also urged people to work for the uplift of the society, state and the country. “Throughout history, we (Vaish community) have always helped in improving our society and I request you to continue the efforts,” he said.

According to Gupta, the government was not doing enough for the Vaish community. “Things have changed under this government but our community remains neglected,” he alleged. “We have constantly demanded OBC quota for the people of Vaish community but all our demands have gone unheard,” he added. The senior leaders of the community plan to hold a protest against the government in Delhi later this month to raise their demands.